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Brandon Warrington is brought into Warren County Court to be sentenced Thursday, July 11, 2013, for the murder of Gary Carpenter III. Judge John Hall imposed a sentence of 25-years-to-life in state prison. (Jason McKibben - jmckibben@poststar.com)

Warrington receives 25-years-to-life sentence for murder

Brandon Warrington is brought into Warren County Court to be sentenced Thursday, July 11, 2013, for the murder of Gary Carpenter III. Judge John Hall imposed a sentence of 25-years-to-life in state prison. (Jason McKibben - jmckibben@poststar.com)

QUEENSBURY -- Brandon Warrington tearfully maintained his innocence Thursday as Warren County Judge John Hall sentenced him to the maximum of 25 years to life in state prison for killing his girlfriend’s 5-year-old son.

Warrington wore a green-and-white striped jail jumpsuit, the color signifying an inmate being held in protective custody.

He told Hall he was “innocent” and “I haven’t done anything wrong,” sobbing as he spoke.

Hall, though, told him he had “no credibility” and blasted him as “cold and calculating” before imposing the maximum term for second-degree murder.

Warrington heard a victim’s impact statement from Gary Carpenter II, the father of 5-year-old victim Gary Carpenter III, and the child’s paternal grandmother, Jessie Carpenter. They both asked for the maximum sentence, as did Warren County District Attorney Kate Hogan.

Gary Carpenter II said he hoped Warrington suffers in prison.

“No true man hurts a kid for any reason,” he said.

The grandmother recounted her times with the boy and how they will never see sunrise or sunset together again.

“I will never forgive or forget what Gary went through at his hands,” Jessie Carpenter said. “Brandon took my heart with his actions.”

Hogan said Warrington is a “master of minimization” with “absolutely no moral conscience.” After Wednesday’s hearing, she called him a “psychopath” who deflected blame for sexual abuse of the boy on an acquaintance.

Defense lawyer Garfield Raymond has said the conviction will be appealed and he believes there was insufficient evidence for the murder charge.

“I do not believe the facts of this case will substantiate a depraved indifference (murder) conviction,” he said.

He and Warrington have blamed the boy’s mother, Jennie Mattison, for the child’s injuries. Raymond on Wednesday called her a “liar.”

After the hearing, Gary Carpenter II said he has been writing to friends in jail to tell them to look for Warrington. Carpenter II has been in jail numerous times.

“He’s going to get justice the way I feel justice should be served,” Carpenter said. “He’ll be seeing my boys around. He’s not going to get out of (a prison) reception.”

Warrington was convicted June 11 of second-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter for causing the child’s injuries last November at the Glens Falls apartment they shared with Mattison.

He was not accused of intentionally killing the boy but caused his death by acting with “depraved indifference to human life” when slamming his head into a shower stall, a wall and floor. He testified Mattison was responsible for the injuries.

Warrington, 25, of Glens Falls, will be eligible for parole in November 2037.

Mattison, 24, pleaded guilty to felony hindering prosecution for lying to police to cover for Warrington when the two were questioned Nov. 15, as the boy clung to life. She testified against him at trial.

She is to be sentenced by Hall on Wednesday and faces up to 1-1/3 to 4 years in state prison.

She was not in court Thursday as she remains in Warren County Jail pending sentencing.

Gary Carpenter II said he and his fellow “Juggalos” — the name of a group that follows the rock/rap band Insane Clown Posse — will make sure Mattison is held accountable as well, though he did not say how.

“She may get out in a couple of years, but she’s going to have to come home and deal with me,” he said.

Warrington had a fair trial, and he was convicted of the murder of the child. He is receiving the sentence that he deserved for his crime. He chose to beat on a helpless child. He showed no mercy, and now he will reap what he sowed.

The poor kid was dealt a seriously bad hand. Classy statement from the Juggalo that fathered the boy. Look up Juggalo in Urban Dictionary via Google search... It's a very apt description. Not that Warrington doesn't deserve it, but I can't help feeling that statement SHOULD come back to haunt Carpenter if anything bad happens to Warrington in jail/prison. RICO will probably be ignored in this case. It was pretty clear what Carpenter's statement intended. Definitely not the brightest crayon in the box, that one.

Regardless of socioeconomic status, no child deserves to be abused. That said, the earlier published obituary for this child refering to him as a "pimp" sadly pointed the direction that this kid's life was likely to take, especially considering the abject failure of CPS. The comments made by the child's biological father were not that surprising given their culture. In both the reference to the convicted, "seeing his boys" in prison and later plans to hold his late child's mother, "accountable" via some form of Juggalo justice, again echos of this low life culture which unfortunately, we seem unable to eradicate from this area. While Warrington recieved the appropriate sentence for his crime, it defies logic as to why following two documented threats to other people's well-being, Mr. Carpenter II has not been arrested. In a civil society, everyone deserves protection under the law, even convicted criminals.

Normally I’d give a pass to the hysterical rantings of a distraught father, but these comments definitely leave the impression that the poor little boy didn’t stand a chance regardless of which parent he would’ve been with.

I don't think this little boy stood a chance with anyone within this dysfunctional circle of family & friends. You just have to remember how this poor child was described/remembered in his obit to realize he was surrounded by low lifes.

That this child's father publicly threatened the killer & the child's mother just underscores the level of dysfunction.

Can't help mentioning the irony of the article on pg B2 in today's Post Star, "Group Calls for youthful arrest change". A statewide coalition (touting the support of Harry Belafonte, no less!) wants to increase the age of adult criminal responsibility from the current 16, and that's not just for non-violent crimes. How does that tie in with this horrendous crime and the culture that contributed to these misfits? The coalition cites "developmental research that shows brains don't fully form until age 25, and adolescent decision-making and behavior are impulsive and lack an appreciation of consequences. ". So they should all get away with just a slap on the wrist and we should forgive them because they are still "impulsive"!!!!!

I agree, it sounds like some people do not want to hold young criminals accountable at all for their actions:" under 25 years old they are unable to understand the consequences of their actions because of impulsivity". That is so totally ridiculous. I recall being able to appreciate the consequences of my actions at that age, so was I unusually prescient for my age? I think not. Young people are not less intelligent than ever, they just are not being held to high standards by some adults. Why are we not expecting more from them instead of less?

BrianThe threats only became 'public' when the Post Star and likely other media gave him the forum. Take away the public forum and he loses the chance to add to his his 'tough guy' image. I certainly do not see it as NEWS and I'm still disappointed the Post Star provide the forum. They should know better.

Well they wouldn't be doing their journalistic duty if they failed to interview him or at least attempt to interview him. If he chooses to make himself look like a thug that is his problem, not the Post Star's.

This article is a disgrace and belongs in the Enquirer. Who cares what Carpenter says? Where was he when the poor child was being beaten and abused? He didn't notice? Shows what kind of father he really is. The entire lot of these bottom feeders should never be allowed around children, ever. The mother should receive the maximum 4 years in prison and Warrington should be in prison the rest of his life.

So The juggalo finall stands up for his son. Where were you Mr Carpenter when your son was being abused? Why wasn't your home found fit for him to stay there? Throwing out threats like that just show the rest of the community that your son had no chance at all wether he was with his mother or your family .You want to be a big man? Then you should have been there for your son when he was being abused but I guess that being a juggalo was more important then being a dad. Its easy to threaten people when you have "friends" to back you up. How about manning up and doing your son's death justice by trying to better your self and his memory? But I guess the thug life is easier and less work. All you did was soil poor Gary's memory and proved he had no chance from the day he was born. He was doomed from the start. A poor child lost his life and this is how you choose to honor his memory. What a shame!

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